YOUR INDUSTRY: Health Club/Gyms

A scientific statement urging fitness clubs to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and train staff to use them was released today by the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine. The joint position statement, "Automated External Defibrillators in Health/Fitness Facilities," advises larger facilities and those with special seniors programs to be equipped with the devices and to provide training.

"Many more Americans are now exercising at health and fitness clubs, including more senior citizens and people with undiagnosed heart disease who may be at higher risk for cardiac arrest. The first few minutes after cardiac arrest are critical to survival," says Gary Balady, M.D., who chaired the joint writing group that drafted the statement.

The number of fatal events at health clubs is unknown. However, in one large database of more than 2.9 million members of large commercial health club chains, 71 deaths were reported during a two-year period. In another survey of 65 randomly chosen facilities in Ohio, 17 percent reported having a club member who had a sudden cardiac death or heart attack during a five-year period. Only 3 percent of these clubs had AEDs at the time of the emergency.

Many states and local legislation now mandate AEDs at health clubs of certain criteria. (New York State = clubs with more than 500 members; New York City = clubs with more than 250 members). Legend Safety has been an early pioneer in assisting the health club industry with AED Program deployment. We are the preferred vendor for World Gym health clubs worldwide.

For more information call us today at 866-534-3635 or email us at help@legendsafety.com.